Noida International Airport opens to boost capacity, serving 12 million passengers initially and aiming to become a major global aviation hub.
NOIDA: India has inaugurated a second international airport serving its capital region.
The Noida International Airport opened on Saturday as part of a major push to expand the country’s aviation sector.
Located 75 kilometres from New Delhi in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, the greenfield project will initially serve 12 million passengers annually.
Its capacity is designed to grow to 70 million passengers over time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the facility, which will also handle cargo operations.
He stated the airport would act as a gateway to the wider Delhi region.
Modi said he hoped a flight would take off every two minutes once fully operational.
“The airport would boost economic activity in western Uttar Pradesh, creating opportunities for farmers, small businesses and young people,” he said.
The new airport will complement the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is 15 kilometres from the city centre. Modi’s office said the two airports will function as an integrated system.
“Together, the two airports will function as an integrated aviation system, easing congestion, expanding passenger capacity, and positioning Delhi NCR (National Capital Region), among leading global aviation hubs,” the statement said.
Aviation expansion has been a priority since Modi came to power in 2014. The government launched a drive to boost air links between small towns and megacities.
The number of airports has more than doubled in the past decade, from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024. India’s growing economy and population of 1.4 billion is fueling its rise as the world’s fourth-largest air market.
